Reflecting sign



April 21, 1931.

H. L. STRINGER 1,801,698

REFLECT ING SIGN Filed March 14, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.1.

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ATTORNEYS April 21, 1931- H. STRINGER 1,801,698

REFLECTING SIGN Filed March 14, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 40 luvs/won J-wmt L. SM

ATTORNEYS April 21, 1931. H. L. STRINGER 1,801,593

REFLECTING SIGN Filed March 14, 1929 :5 Sheets-Sheet 3 'Fig. 6.

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ATTORNEYS P Patented Apr. 21, 1931 UNITED STATS PATENT OFFICE I REFLECTING BIG-N Application filed March it, 192?, Serial No. 347,853, and in Great Britain March 22, 1928.

This invention relates to advertising and like signs, and it is particularly concerned with that type of sign in which daylight or artificial light is reflected bya mirror to the 5 eyes of passers-by, a stencil being interposed so as to provide any desired advertising or other eifect. It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved sign in which successive changes ofthe advertiseiu ment or the like can be produced by means of vibrations. According to the present invention, in a sign of the type set forth a weight is. mounted so as to oscillate under the influence of 15 vibrations to which the sign may be subjected, and is so connected to the sign that, as the weight oscillates, the advertisement or the like is changed. The invention is particularly applicable to signs mounted on motor vefIO hicles, and the oscillating weight and connecting mechanism may then be mounted in the casing of the sign upon the vehicle. The casing containing thestencil and the mirror may be mounted to rock about. apivotal axis, and thus itself act as the oscillating weight.

Preferably the oscillating weight acts to store up energy in an intermediate member,

' the energy being periodically released to i move the stencil, ora mask covermg the sten-- oil, through predetermined distances at a time. Conveniently a fixed stencil and a movable mask may be provided, and the mask may be reciprocated by the intermittent action of the intermediate member so as alternately to mask and uncovercertain parts of the advertisement or the like. For example the oscillating weight may be arranged to wind up a spiral spring which is periodically released or tripped, and which upon its release rotates the disc or the like connected to reciprocate the mask.

The connecting mechanism between the Weight and the mask or stencil preferably includes a driving cord or the like which is fixed at one end tothe Weight, passes around a pulley or a roller, and is fixed at theother endto a tensioning spring as set forth in the specification of United States PatentNo.

1,616,339, to me, dated February 1st, 1927. In cases where the oscillations of the weight arecaused to wind up a spiral spring, this spring may be disposed within, and fixed at one end to the pulley around which the driving cord passes, the other end of the spring being fixed to a disc or the like arranged upon rotation to reciprocate the mask or stencil. lVhen the whole casing of the sign is pivotally mounted so as itself to serve as the oscillating weight, one end of the driving cord may be secured to a fixed point on the motor f' vehicle or the like and the pulley may be carried by the casing so that the whole moves relatively to the fixed point of attachment of the driving cord as the casing oscillates.

In general, when a driving cord passed around a pulley is employed as described above, it will be desirable to provide a check ing cord so wound around the pulley as to prevent any tendency for the latter to rotate in the reverse direction to that in which it is drivenby the driving cord.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, some forms of advertising sign constructed in accordance therewith will now be described by way of example with reference to the a c companying drawings in which Figure lis a front view, and

Figure 2 is a plan, partly in section, of one form of sign, 7

Figures 8 and 4 being crosssections on the lines IIIIII and IVIV respectively of Figure 2, while 7 Figure 5 is a detailed view otpart of the mechanism. 7

Figure 6 .is a rear view; 7

Figure 17 isa plan, and V Figure 8 an end elevation, viewed from the left of Figure 7, of a modified form of sign, while Figure 9 is a rear view of another modified sign.

Figure 10 is a perspective. view of part of the mechanism of the sign shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, i and 5.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 5, a casing 1 of sheet metal is provided having an open front and a top which is partly cut away and covered with a glass plate 2. A mirror 3 is arranged in the casing 1 at an angle of 45 to the horizontal, and is supported by angle brackets 4 placed inside and at the two ends of the casing 1. A glass stencil 5 placed in an horizontal position beneath the glass plate 2, and is mounted so that it can he slid into position through a slit in the end wall 6 of the casing 1. being provided with a tab 7 by means of which it can easily be withdrawn when desired. This arrangement allows of changes or" the advertisement or the like being made with the greatest of case. A mask 8 in the form of a sliding shutter is mounted on wires so that it can slide over the top surface of the stencil 5, and as shown particularly in Figure 2 it is formed with a number of openings 9. This mask 8 is arranged to slide between two extreme positions, in one oi which it masks certain letters on the stencil 5 but admits light through the openings 1 to other letters, while in the second extreme position light is admitted to the first set ot letters, the second set being masked. As shown in Figure 2 light is admitted through five openings 9 to the letters forming the word S I IN S, so that this word appears reflected from the surface 01" the mirror 3 to the eyes of an observer. The letters forming the word GLA S S are, however, masked in the position shown in Figure 2, but when the mask 8 is moved to the right into its other extreme position, these letters will be visible in the mirror 3 while the word S I G N S will be blocked out.

The driving mechanism by which the mask is moved between its two extreme positions comprises a lead weight 10 mounted at one end of: asheet metal fame 11 pivoted at 12, and supported at its other end by a helical spring 13. hen the whole sign is mounted upon a motor vehicle or the like, the vehicle proceeds the weight 10 will oscillate about the pivot 12 under the influence oi vibrations. In order to limit the movement of the weight 10 and to take any shocks due to excessive vibrations, stops 14L surrounded by helical. springs 15 are provided. A driving cord 16 is connected at one end to the frame 11 at a point close to the weight 10, is passed around a groove formed in a pulley 17, and is tastened at its other end to a spring 18 which is attached to a dished portion 19 ot' a sheet metal strip 20 fixed to the casing 1. This sheet metal strip 20 constitutes a frame within which the whole of the oscillating weight and driving mechanism is mounted, so that the latter can be assembled and then fixed in position as a unit within the casing 1.

A checking cord 21, fixed at one end to the part 19 of the frame 20 and at the other end to a tensioning spring 22 also attached to the dished part 19 of the frame 20, is passed around the pulley in the same sense as the driving cord 16, the tensioning springs 18 or 22 being regarded as the point of origin in each case. Thus, as the weight 10 oscillates during its downward movement the pulley 17 is gripped by the driving cord 16 and caused to rotate. The pulley 17 cannot, however, rotate in the reverse direction since any tendency for it to do so is prevented by the checking cord 21 which is caused to pull against its fixed point of connection to the dished part 19 and consequently to grip the pulley firmly. The amplitude of movement of the end of the driving cord 16 is varied by attaching to it a branch cord 28 secured at 24 to the frame 20. By varying the point of connection of this branch cord 23 with the driving cord 16, that is by varying the angle between the cords 16 and 23, the movement of the part of the cord 16 passing around the pulley 17 can be made greater or less than that of the cord connected to the weight so that amplification or reduction of the movement of the weight 10 can be obtained at the pulley 17. Of course, the same amplification or reduction can be obtained by providing a number of different points of attachment :tor the cord 16 on the frame 11 which carries the weight 10.

It will be appreciated that by the construction just described the pulley 17 is caused to rotate continuously in one direction as the weight 10 oscillates. This pulley 17 is freely mounted upon a spindle 25 mounted in a bearing in the bottom of the casing and in the dished. part 19, and carrying at its upper end a disc 26. The pulley 17 is formed in two parts (see Figure 5), a hollow member 27 formed with the grooves in which the cords 16 and 21 are led, and a disc member 28, the two being keyed together by means of a pin 29 carried by the member 27 and entering one 01": a number of holes spaced around the disc 28 and provided so that the member 27 and disc may be variably positioned rela tively to one another. The disc 28 and disc 26 are relatively movable while the disc 26 and spindle 25 move together and the discs 27 and 28 also move together. A spiral spring 30 is disposed within the member 27 being fixed at one end to that member and at the other end to a boss 31 on the spindle 25. Thus, as the pulley 17 rotates, if the disc 26 and spindle 25 are held against rotation the spiral spring 30 will be wound up, with the result that if the disc 26 is then released the spindle 25 and disc 26 will be quickly rotated or flicked through an angle by the action of the spring 30.

In order to hold the disc 26 against rotation while the spiral spring 80 is being Wound up, it is formed with a projection 32 which, as the disc 26 rota es, is engaged alternately by two catch members in the form of blade springs 33 formed with shoulders to engage the projection 32. Thus, as long as one of the blade springs 33 is in engagement with nastiness through 180 by means of projecting pin 841' carried by the di'sc"28 of the pulley 17 which engages with the end of Whichever.

blade spring 33 is temporarily in engagement with the projection 32 and forces i't' clearof the projection, so that the disc 26, underthe influence of the spring 30, is flicked through 180 until the projection 32 Comes into engagement with the other blade spring 33;

This intermittent motion of the disc 26is transmitted to the mask 8 by means of an upstanding pin3 5 mounted on the disc 26 and engaging within: a slot 36 formed in a strip 37 connected to the mask 8. In the airrangement shown in Figure? the rotation of the disc 26 through 180 causes the mask 8 to slide from one end of the casing" l to the other. By arranging the pinon'the disc 26 at an angleof 90 relativelycto'th-at in which it is shown, the mask 8 may, of course,

. be r'eciprocated backwards and forwards in the casing 1" instead of fro side to side.

In the modified form she I in Figtire's 6, 7 and 8, the Whole casing" 1 is mounted by means of brackets 38' on a board 39 which is pivotally mounted about a spindle 400abase' ll. The spindle 40 is placed as shoivn at a distance from one end of the casing 1 equal to about one-third of the length of the casing which thus acts as a' pivoted beamhaving a shortend and a long end on opposite sides of the pivotal axis. The short end is pulled down towards the top of the moving vehicle by means of a helical spring 42 which is of such a strength as Just to balance the 1 end which is Weightec'l by means of a Weight; 13. In order to limit the oscillations of the Whole casing, rubber bufl'er's or stops 44 arepro'vidcd on the base 41.

The mask 8 is moved across the topof the stencil "between two extreme p sitions by means of a mechanism similar to that shown in Figure 5, but in this case the disc 26 and the'driving mechanism are enclosed Within a box 45' fixed to the end of the casing, and the disc is connected to the mask 8 by means of a connecting rod 46. The driving pulley is mounted as before to turn abouta vertical axis, but the driving cord 16 is fastened at one end to the base 41 and passesto the driving pulley over a guideroller 47. Thus, as the entire casing rocks under the influence of the vibrations to which it is subjected, the driving pulley moves relatively to the base 41 with the result that the driving cord 16 grips the pulley and rotates it in a manner similar to that described in connection with Figuresjl to 5.

In the modified 'iorn'i of sign, Shotn in.

Figure-9, the casing, maslgand driving mechanism are siinll'a r to those shown ip isigures 6', and but the casing lis permanently fixed by means of brackets 48 toa fixed base and a separate oscillating Weight is provided. As shovvn this oscillating Weight is 1n the form of a beam 49 pivoted at 5 0 and restrained at one end by'a spring 5'1. The other enclfof the beam 4=9 is guided by a rod'52 which passes through the beam. In order to limit the oscillations of the beam, Washers 53 are arranged around the rod52 on each side of the beam 49, and 'compression springs 54' are provided around the rod52' so that as the beam oscillates'the Washers 53 compress the springs 54;. Having thus described my invention What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a reflecting sign, in combination, a mirror exposed to light, a stencil placed at an acute angle to said mirror, a Weighted member mounted to oscillatein response to vibration and means actuated by said Weighted member for successively obturating the light from different parts of said stencil.

2. In a reflecting sign, in combination, a

niirror exposed to light, a stencil placed at an acute angle to said mirror, a Weighted melnber mounted to oscillate in response to vibration, an energy-storing device connected to said Weighted member so as to store energy during the oscillations of said wei 'hte'd member, means for intermittently releasing energy from said energy-storing device and 7 means for applying the energy thus released to obturate' the light successively from different parts of said stencil,

3. In a reflecting sign, in combination, a mirror exposed to light, a stencil placed at an acute angle to said mirror, a Weighted member mounted to oscillate in response to vibration. a spring, a unidirectional,device connecting said Weighted member and said springso as to place said spring under tension during the oscillations of said Weighted member, means for intermittently rcleasing said spring, and means operatively connected with said spring and actuated upon its release for obturating the light successively from different parts of said stencil.

4; In a reflecting sign, in combination, a

mirror exposed to light, a' stencil placed at an acute angle to said mirror, a Weighted member mounted to oscillate in response to vibration, a spiral spring, a. unidirectional device connecting said Weighted member and said spiral spring so as to Wind up said spiral spring during the oscillations of said Weight-' ed member, means for intermittently releasing said spring and means operatively connected With said spring and actuated upon its release for successively obturating the light from different parts of said stencil.

In a reflecting sign, in combination, a mirror. exposed to light, a stencil placed at all atlt angle to said i IIi'II'OI", a mask iiiOi'liitcd to slide over the surface of said stencil so as to obturate the light from different parts or said stencil, a weighted member mounted to oscillate in response to vibration, and a driving connection between said weighted member and said mask.

6. In a reflecting sign, in combination, a mirror exposed to light, a stencil placed at an acute angle to said mirror, a weighted member mounted to oscillate in response to vibration, two rotatably mounted members, a unidirectional driving connection between said weighted member and one of said rotatably mounted members, a spiral spring fixed at one end to said first rotatably mounted member and at the other end to said second rotatably mounted member, means for holding said second member against rotation, means for intermittently releasing said second member to rotate under the influence of said spring and means operatively connected to said second member for successively obturating the light from diiierent parts of said stencil.

7. In a reflecting sign, in combination, a mirror exposed to light, a stencil placed at an acute angle to said mirror, a weighted member mounted to oscillate in response to vibration, means for successively obturating the light from different parts of said stencil and a unidirectional device connecting said weighted member and said obturating means and comprising a pulley, a flexible member encircling said pulley, and having one end connected to said weighted member and a spring applying tension to the other end of said flexible member.

8. In a reflecting sign, in combination, a mirror exposed to light, a stencil placed at an acute angle to said mirror, means for successively obturatin g the light from different parts of said stencil, a weighted member mounted to oscillate in response to vibration, and a unidirectional device connecting said weighted member and said obt-urating means and comprising a pulley and a flexible member encircling said pulley, elastically tcnsioned at one end and connected at the other end to said weighted member, said flexible member being flexibly connected at a point intermediate said pulley and said weighted member to a fixed point in said sign.

9. Means for changing the matter shown by a reflecting sign comprising the combination with a mirror in said sign of a stencil laced at an acute angle to said mirror, a weighted member mounted to oscillate in response to vibration, means for interposing a mask between parts of said stencil and the reflecting surface of said mirror and a unidirectional driving connection between said weighted member and said interposing means. v

10. In a reflecting sign, in combination,

a mirror exposed to light, a stencil placed at an actuate angle to said mirror, a Weighted member mounted to oscillate in response to vibration, a mask, said mask and said stencil being so mounted as to be capable of relative motion, and a unidirectional driving device for imparting said relative motion comprising a pulley, a flexible member encircling said pulley and connected at one end to said weighted member, and a spring applying tension to the other end of said flexible member.

11. In a reflecting sign, in combination, a mirror exposed to light, a stencil placed at an actuate angle to said mirror, a weighted member mounted to oscillate in response to vibration, a mask, said mask and said stencil being so mounted as to be capable of relative motion, a pulley, a flexible member encircling said pulley and connected at one end to said weighted member, a spring applying motion to the other end of said flexible member, a spiral spring connected at one end to said pulley, a disc connected to the other end of said spiral spring, said disc being mounted so as to be held against rotation, means for intermittently releasing said disc and means for converting the rotary motion of said disc into reciprocating relative motion between said stencil and said mask.

12. In a reflecting sign, in combination, a mirror exposed to light, a stencil placed at an acute angle to said mirror, a mask mount ed so as to be capable of reciprocating motion over the surface of said stencil, a weighted member mounted to oscillate in response to vibration, a pulley, a flexible member encircling said pulley and connected at one end to said weighted member, a spring applying motion to the other end of said flexible member, a spiral spring connected at one end to said pulley, a disc connected to the other end or said spiral spring, said disc being mounted so as to be held against rotation, means for intermittently releasing said disc and a pin and slot connection between said disc and said mask.

13. In a reflecting sign, in combination, a mirror exposed to light, a stencil placed at an acute angle to said mirror, a mask mounted to slide over the surface of said stencil so as to obturate the light from different parts of said stencil, a weighted member mounted to oscillate in response to vibration, means for storing energy during the oscillation of said weight, a disc, means for intermittently releasing said stored energy to rotate said disc and a pin and slot connection between said disc and said mask.

14:. In a reflecting sign, the combination claimed in claim 1 and means for limiting the amplitude of oscillations of said weighted member.

15. In a reflecting sign, the combination cally tensioned at its spring so as to claimed in claim 7 and means for preventing backward rotation of said pulley.

16. In a reflecting sign, the combination claimed in claim 7 and a second flexible member encircling said pulley and secured at one end to a fixed point in said sign and elastiother end.

17. In a reflecting sign, in combination, a mirror mounted so as to receive and reflect light, a stencil mounted in the path of said light, a member for obturating light from parts of said stencil, said stencil and said obturating member being so mounted as-to be capable of relative movement, a weighted member mounted to oscillate in response to vibration and means actuated by said Weighted member for effecting relative movement between said stencil and said obturating member.

18. In a reflecting sign, in combination, a mirror mounted so as to receive and reflect light, a stencil mounted in the path of said light, a member for obturating light from parts of said stencil, said stencil and said ob- I turating member being'so' mounted as to be capable of relative movement, a weighted member mounted to oscillate in response to vibration, an energy-storing device connected to said weighted member, means for intermittently releasing energy from said energy-storing device and means for applying the energy thus released for effecting relative movement between said stencil and said obturating member.

19. In a reflecting sign, in combination, a mirror mounted so as to receive and reflect light, a stencil mounted in the path of said light, a member for obturating light from parts of said stencil, said stencil and said obturating member being so mounted as to be capable of relative movement, a Weighted member mounted to oscillate inresponse to vibration, a spring, a unidirectional device connecting said weighted member and said place said spring under tension during the oscillations of said weighted member, means for intermittently releasing said spring, and means operatively connected with said spring and acuated upon its release for effecting relative movement between said stencil and member.

20. In a reflecting sign, in combination, a mirror mounted so as to receive and reflect light, a stencil mounted in the path of said light, a member for obturating light from said obturating releasing said spring and means operatively connected with said spring and actuated upon its release for eflecting relative movement between said stencil and said obturating member.

In witness whereof Lhereunto subscribe my name this 5th day of March, A. D. 1929.

HUBERT LESLIE STRINGER.

parts of said stencil, said stencil and said obturating member being so mounted as to be capable of relative movement, a weighted member mounted to oscillate in response to vibration, a spiral spring, a unidirectional device connecting said weighted member and said spiral spring so as to wind up said spring during the oscillations of said weighted member, means for intermittently 

